Edward Norton in "25Th Hour." Topical beyond belief (shot in NYC right after 9/11). Timeless, two great performances (Norton and Hoffman), memorable scenes, definite overarching consciousness, profound ending. Classic? YES. One of the best American films of the century, so far. less

Jacqueline Bisset and Jean-Pierre Leaud in Francois Truffaut's "Day for Night." Definitely five of the last six. The great performances are those of Cortese and Leaud. (Leaud's performance is comic.) Classic? YES. less

Jacqueline Bisset and Jean-Pierre Leaud in Francois Truffaut's "Day for Night." Definitely five of the last six. The great performances are those of Cortese and Leaud. (Leaud's performance is comic.) Classic? ... more

Kevin Costner in "JFK." Topical in the sense that the topic has never left us. Timeless. Costner is great in it. Memorable scenes all over the place. Stone's consciousness is everywhere, especially in the way it's put together. Complexity? Oh yes. Classic? Yes. less

Kevin Costner in "JFK." Topical in the sense that the topic has never left us. Timeless. Costner is great in it. Memorable scenes all over the place. Stone's consciousness is everywhere, especially in the ... more

Photo: Warner Bros. 1991

Kevin Costner in "JFK." Topical in the sense that the... Photo-5275493.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in "Bonnie and Clyde." All six tendencies, in a big way. It was topical because of the way the subject refracted with the times. Classic? YES.

Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in "Bonnie and Clyde." All six tendencies, in a big way. It was topical because of the way the subject refracted with the times. Classic? YES.

Actress Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction." Has five of the last six tendencies. Classic? Yes.

Actress Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction." Has five of the last six tendencies. Classic? Yes.

Photo: MIRAMAX FILMS, REUTER

Actress Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction." Has five of the... Photo-5275495.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull." Not sure it was topical, but everything else is there, including not one but two memorable performances (the other from Joe Pesci). Classic? Only for as long as people watch movies. less

Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull." Not sure it was topical, but everything else is there, including not one but two memorable performances (the other from Joe Pesci). Classic? Only for as long as people watch ... more

Photo: MGM 1980

Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull." Not sure it was... Photo-5275496.71436 - seattlepi.com

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"Bridesmaids." Possibly topical, definitely timeless, perhaps one great performance (Melissa McCarthy) several memorable scenes. No overarching consciousness. Not really a note of complexity. Classic? I'm rooting for it, but probably not. less

Jean-Pierre Leaud in "The 400 Blows" Five of the last six. Classic? Yes.

Jean-Pierre Leaud in "The 400 Blows" Five of the last six. Classic? Yes.

Photo: Zenith International Films 1959

Jean-Pierre Leaud in "The 400 Blows" Five of the last... Photo-5275498.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in "Before Midnight." Definitely has the first five tendencies. The last? Complexity? Maybe. The complexity would have to derive from a certain mixed feeling about their staying together. I'd say yes. CLASSIC? Probably. less

Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in "Before Midnight." Definitely has the first five tendencies. The last? Complexity? Maybe. The complexity would have to derive from a certain mixed feeling about their staying ... more

"This Is Spinal Tap." Topical, probably timeless, great comic performances, two or three memorable scenes, and an overarching consciousness. Not exactly complex. Classic? Probably a minor one, but yes.

"This Is Spinal Tap." Topical, probably timeless, great comic performances, two or three memorable scenes, and an overarching consciousness. Not exactly complex. Classic? Probably a minor one, but yes.

Eli Roth and Brad Pitt in "Inglourious Basterds." Not necessarily topical, but five of the last six categories, including MANY memorable scenes, and two great performances (Waltz and Laurent). Classic? YES.

Eli Roth and Brad Pitt in "Inglourious Basterds." Not necessarily topical, but five of the last six categories, including MANY memorable scenes, and two great performances (Waltz and Laurent). Classic? YES.

Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Mike Starr in "Goodfellas." Definitely timeless, with great performances, memorable scenes and an overarching consciousness. Perhaps a note of complexity. Not sure. Classic? Yes. less

Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Mike Starr in "Goodfellas." Definitely timeless, with great performances, memorable scenes and an overarching consciousness. Perhaps a note of complexity. Not sure. Classic? ... more

Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly in "Singing In The Rain." Not topical. Timeless. Great performances, perhaps, of a KIND. Memorable scenes, one beyond memorable -- iconic. Not much of an overarching conciousness. Not a complex finish. Classic? Apparently. less

Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly in "Singing In The Rain." Not topical. Timeless. Great performances, perhaps, of a KIND. Memorable scenes, one beyond memorable -- iconic. Not much of an overarching ... more

Photo: Handout

Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly in "Singing In The Rain."... Photo-5275512.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Swiss actor Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler in the movie "Downfall." Five of the last. Classic? Definitely.

Swiss actor Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler in the movie "Downfall." Five of the last. Classic? Definitely.

Rachel Weisz portrays Hester Collyer in a scene from "The Deep Blue Sea." Astounding performance from Weisz, memorable scenes, an overarching consciousness, a timeless topic, and a complex finish. Five of six. Classic? Yes. less

Rachel Weisz portrays Hester Collyer in a scene from "The Deep Blue Sea." Astounding performance from Weisz, memorable scenes, an overarching consciousness, a timeless topic, and a complex finish. Five of six. ... more

Elizabeth Banks and Tobey Maguire in a scene from, "The Details." Very topical, yet timeless. Great performance from Laura Linney. Memorable scenes. An overarching consciousness, and a complex finish -- so complex that many people didn't grasp it. Future classic? Yes. less

Elizabeth Banks and Tobey Maguire in a scene from, "The Details." Very topical, yet timeless. Great performance from Laura Linney. Memorable scenes. An overarching consciousness, and a complex finish -- so ... more

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford and Brad Pitt as Jesse James in Warner Bros. in "The Assassination of Jesse James." Not topical, but timeless. Great performance from Casey Affleck. Memorable scenes, overarching consciousness, and complexity. Classic? Yes -- if people discover it. less

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford and Brad Pitt as Jesse James in Warner Bros. in "The Assassination of Jesse James." Not topical, but timeless. Great performance from Casey Affleck. Memorable scenes, overarching ... more

Photo: Kimberly French

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford and Brad Pitt as Jesse James in Warner... Photo-5275526.71436 - seattlepi.com

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AS GOOD AS IT GETS: Not topical, but timeless. One very memorable scene. Two great performances. An overarching consciousness. Note of complexity. Classic? Possibly.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS: Not topical, but timeless. One very memorable scene. Two great performances. An overarching consciousness. Note of complexity. Classic? Possibly.

Photo: Handout

AS GOOD AS IT GETS: Not topical, but timeless. One very memorable... Photo-5275527.71436 - seattlepi.com

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HIGH FIDELITY': Possibly all six. Cusack is pretty great in this. Classic? Quite possibly.

HIGH FIDELITY': Possibly all six. Cusack is pretty great in this. Classic? Quite possibly.

HIGH FIDELITY': Possibly all six. Cusack is pretty great in... Photo-5275528.71436 - seattlepi.com

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George Clooney in "Up in the Air." Topical, timeless, two great performances (Clooney and Farmiga), two or three memorable scenes. Not sure about the overarching consciousness or complex finish. Classic? Maybe. less

George Clooney in "Up in the Air." Topical, timeless, two great performances (Clooney and Farmiga), two or three memorable scenes. Not sure about the overarching consciousness or complex finish. Classic? ... more

Photo: Paramount Pictures

George Clooney in "Up in the Air." Topical, timeless,... Photo-5275529.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Jeremy Renner in a scene from, "The Hurt Locker." Topical, timeless, one great performance, an overarching consciousness. Not sure about the memorable scenes or the complexity. Classic? Maybe, but I'm betting against it. less

Jeremy Renner in a scene from, "The Hurt Locker." Topical, timeless, one great performance, an overarching consciousness. Not sure about the memorable scenes or the complexity. Classic? Maybe, but I'm betting ... more

Tom Wilkinson and George Clooney in "Michael Clayton." Topical, timeless, one great signature performance (Clooney), one incredibly memorable scene (the end), not sure about the overarching consciousness, and the complex finish may be the result simply of the way the last shot is filmed. Classic? Possibly yes, in the same way that Bogart's best movies are. Classic because it's future classic Clooney. less

Tom Wilkinson and George Clooney in "Michael Clayton." Topical, timeless, one great signature performance (Clooney), one incredibly memorable scene (the end), not sure about the overarching consciousness, and ... more

Humphrey Bogart starred in "The Maltese Falcon." Not topical. Not timeless. Not great, but signature performances from Bogart, Greenstreet and Lorre. One or two memorable scenes. Overarching consciousness? No real complexity though it probably seemed so at the time. Classic?
Apparently, though I think it's just a good to very good movie. less

Humphrey Bogart starred in "The Maltese Falcon." Not topical. Not timeless. Not great, but signature performances from Bogart, Greenstreet and Lorre. One or two memorable scenes. Overarching consciousness? No ... more

Paul LeMat in "American Graffiti." Not exactly topical, but timeless. No great performances. A couple of memorable scenes. maybe an overarching consciousness. Definitely a note of complexity. Classic? A minor one, but yes. less

Paul LeMat in "American Graffiti." Not exactly topical, but timeless. No great performances. A couple of memorable scenes. maybe an overarching consciousness. Definitely a note of complexity. Classic? A ... more

NOTORIOUS: Topical, timeless, one very memorable scene, a great performance (Bergman), an overarching consciousness (Hitchcock) and complexity in the sense that you don't quite feel right about things at the end. Classic? Yes. less

NOTORIOUS: Topical, timeless, one very memorable scene, a great performance (Bergman), an overarching consciousness (Hitchcock) and complexity in the sense that you don't quite feel right about things at the ... more

Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." Five of the last... Photo-5275560.71436 - seattlepi.com

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Tim Robbins, and Morgan Freeman in "The Shawshank Redemption." Not sure about the overarching consciousness, and it's not topical, but it has the four other tendencies for sure. Classic? It's emerging as one, yes. less

Tim Robbins, and Morgan Freeman in "The Shawshank Redemption." Not sure about the overarching consciousness, and it's not topical, but it has the four other tendencies for sure. Classic? It's emerging as one, ... more